I didn’t see you. We’ve all said it at one time or another. Often, we are actually saying, I didn’t notice you. Perhaps, more truthfully, I wasn’t looking for you. Or, simply, I wasn’t looking.

Earlier this week, Liz Braun published a piece that made its way into the Toronto Sun and other newspapers, titled Put your motorcycle in the garage & never take it out again. Although received by many as a slam at the motorcycle riding community, it paints a stronger picture of those who are riding in four-wheeled cages.

It’s often not about you. A lot of car drivers can’t see you.

A lot of other car drivers are idiots.

In the off-chance you hadn’t noticed, people don’t stop at red lights any more, rarely signal lane changes, never leave the passing lane, fail to check their blind spot, tailgate, speed, drive under the influence and use their phones while operating their vehicle.

Let’s face it, I didn’t see you – or as we Canadians would more likely state, Sorry, I didn’t see you – is more of an abrogation than an acceptance of responsibility.

I didn’t see you suggests you might have done more to be visible. Already larger than a bicycle, with a full headlight system, and wearing high visibility clothing, more is required of you if you’re riding a motorcycle. Somehow, it is the motorcyclist’s responsibility. As Braun observed,

The main cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other drivers to see you.

Dare I suggest the main cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other drivers to look. The more accurate statement is likely, I wasn’t looking for you (I was looking for two headlights four feet apart when I glanced, nothing else) or, perhaps more truthfully, I wasn’t looking.

On school days, I drive my grandson to and from school. Following are observations from that less than twenty minutes on the road each day, total for morning and afternoon.

At least once a month someone blows through a stop sign at an all-way stop. Often, the driver has her or his head down. Sometimes, the carload of teenagers that in moments pulls into the high school we pass to get to my grandson’s school is laughing, talking, or otherwise distracted when they bypass that red octagon.

About once every five or six weeks, someone blows through the east/west red light after the north/south light has turned green. A couple of times each year, emergency vehicles are called to clean up the ensuing wreckage.

Almost daily, someone makes a right turn southbound on a red light without slowing or looking to their left to check for oncoming southbound traffic in the intersection. And don’t get me started on the apparent inability of people to turn from their lane into their lane, signal turns, signal lane changes or patiently wait for pedestrians to clear a crosswalk.

Almost daily, I’m tailgated for doing the speed limit. At least once a week I get the horn from a car behind for coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. A few times, I’ve been passed while stopped at the stop sign. And yes, I’m the guy who memorizes your plate, vehicle make and model. and notifies Ottawa police.

Almost daily, I see someone clearly using a phone – talking, texting, messaging, whatever. I observe plenty of Sorry, I didn’t see you waves and words being mouthed, or windows rolled down to make sure the message is heard. And, yes, the occasional burst of expletives directed by the inattentive driver at the person they didn’t see.

We were taught as children, and then as new drivers, to look both ways before we cross the street. It doesn’t work that way anymore. Look left. Look right. Look left, again, as you start to cross, and keep looking in both directions as well as ahead because the odds are high someone is driving a multi-ton weapon and not looking, let alone looking for you. In fact, make eye contact and wait until any approaching vehicles have stopped. Don’t trust other drivers.

This last point is perhaps the most significant. Don’t trust other drivers.

The main cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other drivers to look.

Yes, make yourself as visible as possible. Yes, drive as defensibly as you know. And, be aware some drivers will not look. Some will. They’ll see you and identify you with the small percentage of motorcyclists who should take their act to the track if they think they’re really all that. Don’t join the riders that inspire road rage. And, don’t let your guard down.

As Braun writes, there is nothing between you and the hard road. And, as she notes in Alex Crews’ equal time, gear up and keep your guard up. Be careful out there.

I’m just a few days home from a two-week motorcycle tour that touched base in each of the four original provinces of Confederation, the province that hosted the Confederation conference and the last province to join the Dominion of Canada (answers later in the blog). While away, much that is important in my life unfolded in my absence.

Don – Headshot “Love, Hope, Believe”

Gloria, my wife, took the initiative to enlist some helpers and undertake several projects that were on the summer to-do list. The bench swing is stained and back up and swinging. The deck and front porch bench are stained. The windows are washed and bathrooms painted. The garage has been cleaned. And, there’s a small garden in the back yard. I don’t do gardening so this one is extra special for Gloria.

A little farther from home, there were developments in significant situations that lie close to my heart.

Hamas attacked Israel. This time it was more than the five rockets fired on the first day of Prime Minister Harper’s official visit in January. I was there that day. Apart from the local media reports – with confirmation from some of the IDF members who accompanied the delegation – there wasn’t much of anything said in January because the Iron Dome missile defence system did its job. Last week, however, Hamas launched a barrage that has seen more than 1,000 rockets (and climbing) fired into Israel from Gaza; some going deeper into Israel than ever before. Iron Dome has taken out more than 90% of them and the extensive network of bomb shelters throughout Israel has handled safety for all but a handful of Israeli citizens.

Sadly, hundreds of Gaza residents have died or been injured in the launch sites targeted defence initiatives of the Israeli Defense Force (which is potentially the only standing military force in the world that is named for and has the primary objective of defense). The IDF operates in a protective manner, engaging only when Israel is first attacked. As recently as this morning, Israel agreed to the Egypt brokered ceasefire, waiting 6 hours before conceding that the 47 rockets fired by Hamas during that timeframe meant that the political authority in Gaza – which said it was considering the ceasefire proposal – and the terrorist Hamas – which said it was not consulted – were not in step with pursuing peace, temporary or long term.

Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the State of Israel.

Back in Ottawa, there was a special sitting of the Justice Committee to hear testimony on Bill C-36, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, the proposal to replace Canada’s prostitution laws; for the first time criminalizing the purchase of sexual services and related conscription and marketing activities. It was a pleasure to pray that the voices of survivors and those they have trusted to advocate alongside them be heard. In this mix of witnesses, much like the motorcycle community, I have been privileged to meet and become friends with people I might otherwise never have come in contact with based on my own background and education.

Please pray for wisdom and compassion as the committee meets this week to consider amendments to the proposed legislation.

On the road, my friend Barry and I moved through original Canadian provinces Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick to enjoy a few days on Prince Edward Island. On PEI we attended the Atlanticade motorcycle gathering and visited Province House where the Confederation conference was held in September 1864. PEI didn’t join the new nation until 1873.

We hit original province number four, Nova Scotia, after leaving PEI. Riding round the spectacular Cabot Trail we arrived precisely on time in North Sydney to load the bikes on the ferry to Argentia, Newfoundland. Newfoundland and Labrador was the last province to join the Dominion, doing so in 1949.

On day one in NL we trekked to the easternmost point in North America and visited the famous spot on which Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless signal – seeing icebergs just outside the St. John’s harbour. The next day we toured some of the most scenic highway I’ve ever encountered. A quick jaunt into Gros Morne National Park was to follow but will have to wait as plans were interrupted by post-hurricane Arthur wind and rain. Instead, we raced to Port-aux-Basques to beat the 110km/h plus winds forecast (and fulfilled) at Wreckhouse (still we encountered gusts between 80 and 100 km/h), arriving just before noon to weather the storm from inside our hotel. The next morning we caught the ferry (well it didn’t leave until mid-afternoon, waiting for the swells to drop below 4 metres) to North Sydney.

Waiting to get on the ferry, we met with two motorcyclists from Baton Rouge, LA, who had started the journey in a group of three. One rider went off the road near Wreckhouse and died a few hours later in Corner Brook. Please pray for Andy’s family and friends. His memorial service was today.

On the final part of our journey home, we rode through some neighbourhoods in Fredericton where trees were down and power was still out from their experience with Arthur. Please pray for folks there, some of whom have lost much and others who are still waiting for electricity to be restored.

A lot can happen in two weeks. And it did. Life is fragile. Handle with prayer.